1888-1889
Gibraltar, Algeria, Malta, Egypt, India, Burma, Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Russia
October 14th, 1888
Karachi
My Beloved Angee,
I embarked on board the steamer at Bombay last Lord's day about 11 am and had to wait until 8 am on Monday morning the arrival of the English mail. Was sorry not to have spent the day with the dear brethren there, but glad to be out of the great heat of the City unto the river, where we found it delightfully cool. On our way to this port the mails for which we were carrying I got your welcome letter through the courtesy of the mail agent by whom they are all assorted before reaching Karachi. I was not surprised to hear of William's death. I trust he was among that blessed company of whom God has said "absent from the body, present with the Lord" but his glory here of which he so vaunted himself as to be ashamed to own others of his family is for ever laid in the dust – "all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flame of grass – the grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever". P.F.&Co. also enclosed a cutting from the Daily News referring to his death. It is a fearfully solemn thing for a child of God to seek honour and glory in a world God has rejected, since it rejected and crucified His Son. All the supposed gain is loss, all its honour and flattery only to drug and stupefy the spiritual sensibility and before the judgement seat of Christ to receive His appraisal of it all and to find that the one thus deceived has been a loser for Eternity. The Lord preserve us each my beloved Angee in the straight and narrow path reckoning the reproaches of Christ great riches than all the empty glitter this poor world can give.
I am staying at the same hotel here I was sheltered in during the last visit and have been fairly comfortable. Through mercy the Lord has given encouragement too both in the business and in His own especial interests. The dear soldier brother now quartered here has heard of my purposed arrival by the last mail and on the evening of that day on my return from some business calls I was glad to see the dear fellow comfortably seated in my room waiting my return. We spent 2 hours together, most of which was over Romans VIII. From him I learnt of two other brethren and their wives, all in fellowship being in Karachi and he had sought them in vain. One brother and his wife were known to me. I called upon them at Rawalpindi last year – the other a station master formerly at Succur I had written to last year as he had just left his station previous to my call. Well, we made special prayer to God about them and asked that we might be brought together. Yesterday through the Lord's goodness I found them and we were all glad and this morning at 10 we came together in my room and remembered the Lord and ate His Supper. The dear soldier brother was surprised when he came to find the others here. The wife of one of the brothers however was sick and unable to be with us. D.V. we meet again at 5 this afternoon at the house where they are lodging for a gospel address.
I delivered the box to Mr Criper on Wednesday last after all the delay – the P & O Clyde brought it into Bombay and one of the officers promised me he would see to its being transhipped to Karachi – this he failed to do and on my arrival at Bombay and going to the Customs I found it there to my surprise – however nothing was injured and a ham that had been carefully wrapped turns out in first class condition. Mrs Criper has had a bad time of it in her recent confinement and is looking poorly. The last mail home will take a sorrowful letter to the parents. It appears from the medical man here that some kind of tumour has developed since the birth of the child and he advises her return to England for an operation – she therefore returns (leaving the child here) early in November. I can quite picture the father's grief and surprise when he meets her at Liverpool – she is so altered. I trust the operation may be successful and that she may be spared to return to her loved ones. The climate here seems delightful but is very treacherous on account of the cold damp nights. I should think they were very happy with each other and he seems very kind and is naturally much concerned about her. I have dined once with them and yesterday afternoon I took Mrs Criper for a drive in the country which she enjoyed.
My servant gets on pretty well in everything expect the language which he does not know well – that is the English – poor fellow he was very ill on board the steamer and as helpless as a creature could be.
I did not get letters from either Arundel or Harry by the last mail and am glad you did not serve me so too – you must be where I am to know the comfort of a letter from home. No letter either from Henry.
Through mercy I am keeping well and am very thankful to have the Jaegers and the new flannel night clothing - I have had a piece of flannel let into the Jaegers – both sleeves and front and back – the stuff should have been thoroughly shrunk before they were made.
Now with much love once more to your dear self and our dear children and their little ones and all dear friends believe me my beloved wife.
Being very affectionate Husband
P.S. Oct. 17th 1888 – Karachi
I have decided not to go up the Persian Gulf now, as I hear the probabilities of any trade are very remote and by using mail steamers it would occupy a month or 5 weeks, which would make it rather costly for P.F.& Co.
I have told them this, but if they still wish it, I can as easily take it from Bombay on my return there by end of November as now, so I have given them a word to cable if they still desire it. Expect a mail from England due here an hour after the outward mail closes. Have had a nice time here and now leaving for Luetta and the Lahore – God Bless you all my beloved wife and children.